Supporters of the smoking ban, who gathered more than 5,000 signatures from registered voters in January to again put the issue on the ballot, gained some votes, but little else.

Voter turnout on this issue paled in comparison to 2005, when nearly 30,000 voters had their say.

Perhaps the public is tired of the smoking ban debate.

What needs to be realized is that voters now have spoken on this issue twice in three years, and twice have voted down a smoking ban.

Amarillo has realized the dangers of secondhand smoke, and a significant number of business owners have decided on their own that a smoke-free workplace is in their best interests - without government or the ballot box making that decision for them.

Almost all public property in Amarillo - especially at the county and city level - is tobacco-free, which is the way it should be since the public has no choice when using government facilities.

Private businesses, though, are a different story because of individual choice and responsibility.

The margin deciding the smoking ban was close - as most predicted - but the voters have spoken.